26-year-old Portland woman dies in NY crash after Camp Bisco concert

ALBANY, N.Y. — A woman was killed Sunday evening after crashing her pickup truck on the New York State Thruway, New York State Police said.

The woman, Alisha Makepeace, 26, of Portland, Maine, and a male passenger, David Melnick, 26, of New Hampshire, were driving east on the highway between exits 24 and 25 after attending the Camp Bisco music festival in Mariaville, according to Sgt. Steven Casabella. The woman apparently fell asleep at the wheel, Casabella said; witnesses told troopers the truck was swerving between lanes before it veered into the median at 9:01 p.m.

Makepeace was killed instantly when the truck crashed into a guardrail, Casabella said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man suffered a broken leg and was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital by ambulance, he said. His condition was not immediately known, but his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

The eastbound left lane and shoulder were partially closed between exits 24 and 25 for just over an hour as rescuers dealt with the wreck.

The cause of the crash remains officially under investigation, Casabella said.